04/25/2005

Meteorologist Cheryl Lemke of The Weather Channel

A Midwest native, Cheryl graduated from Iowa State University Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Meteorology and a double minor in Mathematics and Psychology. She's been on The Weather Channel for almost 20 years now, and is unfailingly cheerful and professional in her presentation. But what amazes me is how she listens to her co-hosts as if they are revealing the most interesting secret in the history of the world. Remember, she knows what they're going to say, so you have to chalk this down to great acting. No wonder she has a fan club on Yahoo, which is where I got the above picture.

Cheryl is married to Atlanta radio personality Rob Lee, who was once a professional wrestler (no kidding!) and who also drove a tank in the Salvation Army (OK, that one's kidding). Rob has been in radio for over 25 years, and grew up in Chicago listening to radio great John Records Landekker and Larry Lujack (didn't we all?). They sound like a nice, fun couple, eh?

UPDATE: Cheryl just received the 2006 Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences Outstanding Meteorology Alumna Award from Iowa State University. Here's an excerpt from their magazine article:

The self-described "shyest kid in class” now is seen on television by millions.

"When I was in school I always thought I would be working in a National Weather Service office or doing research somewhere,” Cheryl Lemke says. "Either one would have been fulfilling to me.”

But as Lemke was nearing graduation from Iowa State with a degree in meteorology, she started to hear a rumor about the National Weather Service. "They were undergoing cutbacks back then,” she remembers, "and jobs were hard to come by. "I thought to myself ‘I had better rethink this. Maybe broadcasting meteorology would be right for me.'”

I rember whean I first seen Cheryl on t.w.c and thout she wase nice and sweet or speshale ,
about five or sex years ago
I wood like to some day pick her brain so;to speek about sience and such sence she is a sienctse off sorts ,and the fact she is cute helps to . on a personal note iff I may saye ime a karate man my self and wood be hounerd to stick up fore a tallented, sexy laddy as hear .

I just saw Cheryl on the weather channel - watching it in our living room in Castle Rock, CO. I told my wife that I was just sure I had herad the voice and the name before (of Cheryl Lemke) but could not place her. When I saw the comment from Ms. French above, I knew it! I lived in Terre Haute, In from '79 to May of '85.
My, have things have changed for us all!!

Dear Cheryl Lemke; 10-17-05
Did you happen to be at Fort Jackson S.C. 1978/79, If so(Capt)lyle" B-7BN,2ND,BDE,2ND PLT, 30TH of may 1978. Weren't you in EchoComp, Charley, delta,alpha Company
Drill Sgt. burgess. IF so Please call me at 1-760-486-6915 or email me back . If you happen to
Have the year book 1978, or my photo Please scan It and email copies back. I have thirteen kids And Four Grandkids, (5)kids and (5)spouses and other,
relatives figthing around the world, VA#L1731
Thank You for the greatjob you do every day